Review of Cantinflas (2014) by Lorena R — 07 Sep 2014

"Cantinflas" is a biopic that introduces us to the legend even if some of us grew up with him. This film tells the story of Mario "Cantinflas" Moreno's rise to the top through a series of flashbacks.

The film opens with Michael Todd (Michael Imperioli) struggling to find a way to fund his film. We flashback to Mario (Oscar Jaenada) struggling to survive and eventually earning a film career that introduced him to the world.

While informative, the scenes concerning Michael Todd come off as cartoony due to the people he has to interact with. Cantinflas's scenes are more real and entertaining. I think Jaenada did a great job transitioning between a struggling man to a famous film star.

Although there are moments that lack explanations and kind of just throw them into the story because that's what happened in real life. His affair with another woman is barely brushed over and his wife instantly forgives him and we instantly forget that part of his life.

Overall though, the essence of the man was captured and we learn things we did not know.